The Electoral Commission has calculated that only 44 per cent of young people voted in the 2010 election and only some 50 per cent were registered.
On 15 October during the Committee stage of the Wales Bill –which devolves more powers to the Welsh Assembly— Alistair Lexden spoke in strong support of an amendment which would create a partnership between electoral registration officers and schools. In Northern Ireland such an arrangement has led to a very significant increase in the number of young people on the electoral register.
Alistair Lexden said that the introduction of a similar scheme in Wales and elsewhere would provide ‘the key to securing the marked and rapid increase in the number of young people registered to vote’. Follow the link to his brief speech.